Tusker breaks highway barricade in Odisha causing panic among commuters
The elephant emerged onto National Highway-55 near Oranda late on Monday night, smashing through a roadside barrier.
A tusker smashed a roadside barricade and crossed National Highway-55 near Oranda in the Khuntuni forest range on Monday night, according to the Deccan Chronicle. The incident occurred within the Cuttack Forest division in Odisha, causing alarm for motorists and passengers on the busy route.
Local residents stated that such unexpected crossings threaten both drivers and the animals. The event highlights safety concerns regarding frequent elephant movement across highways in the state.
Wildlife activist Kambu Dhar Kheti said that recurring incidents raise questions about the effectiveness of forest department measures to manage elephant movement. Kheti added that efforts to drive animals back into forests often fail to provide lasting solutions as they continue to enter human habitations and cross major roads.
The incident follows recent human-elephant conflict cases in Odisha. On October 21, a man was trampled to death in his Dahimal village home in Bolangir district. On October 10, an elephant damaged a government primary school's boundary wall and hand pump at Dadhiapadar village in the same district.
The school in Muribahal block has 35 students and is located 2 km from the village. Villagers have demanded the school be moved closer to their homes due to the danger posed to children in areas frequented by elephants.